Shane followed Quinn up the broken and weed-infested sidewalk to the rundown apartment building. Quinn looked nervous, constantly glancing over his shoulder at Shane as if he was expecting him to run back to his car. Shane just kept smiling. That was not to say that he didn’t hit the lock button twice more on the key fob when Quinn wasn’t looking. It wasn’t a great neighborhood.

His first instinct was to be pissed at Rowe for paying Quinn so little while working him like a dog. But while he didn’t know Rowe that well, he was sure that the man took great care of his employees. He suspected that Quinn was funneling the vast majority of his paycheck to his mother’s nursing home and seeing that she was always in good hands.

He was torn between being incredibly proud of Quinn and wanting to smack him for not taking better care of himself. Instead, he kept his damn mouth shut because it wasn’t his place to comment one way or the other. There were enough lines that had gotten blurred that day. He wasn’t making shit worse.

They tromped up the narrow, dark stairwell to the third floor. Quinn pulled his keys out of his pocket and fumbled with them for a second, trying to find the right one. “It should only take me a couple of minutes to throw some laundry in a basket.”

“No rush.”

Quinn finally found the right key and was about to put it in the lock when a loud voice bellowed on the other side of the door. A groan left Quinn and his shoulders slumped. This must not have been a good sign. “My roommates are home,” he grumbled and then unlocked the door.

Shane followed Quinn inside, struggling not to cover his nose against the smell of stale beer and dirty socks. The short hall ended in a square living room that was dominated by a massive flat-screen television and a leather couch. There was a small coffee table, but it was hard to see under the empty beer cans, fast-food bags, and other random bits of trash.

A giant tank of a man was sprawled on the couch in a pair of basketball shorts and a blue and white UK tank top. His blond hair was mostly hidden under a backward ball cap. He took one look at Quinn and his mouth dropped open.

“Holy shit! Q! You’re alive,” he shouted loud enough to send his voice bouncing off the wall.

“Ha ha, Vince,” Quinn said half-heartedly.

“Dude, I haven’t seen you in a month. I had Tanner stick his head in your room yesterday to make sure your dead body wasn’t on the floor or something.”

“Whatever. It’s not like you’d smell it over the stink in here.”

Vince flipped him off with a grin. “I’ll buy your prissy ass an air freshener. Who’s this?”

“Shane Stephens,” Shane said.

“A coworker,” Quinn quickly added.

“You a hacker too? Or one of those bodyguards?”

“Neither. I’m a private investigator with The Merleau Detection Agency.”

“No shit,” Vince said, sounding impressed.

“Tanner here too?” Quinn asked like he was trying to distract Vince from whatever question he was about to blurt out next.

“Yep. Kitchen. You gonna stick around? Neither Tanner or me caught the wrestling pay-per-view this past weekend. We’ve got pizza coming.”

“Nah, I’m just grabbing my laundry. Gonna run a load at Ward while I’m working a case with Shane.”

Vince made a noise in the back of his throat. “Man, you work too hard. You gotta tell that boss of yours that he’s got to stop riding your ass.”

Quinn was saved from having to answer by the arrival of another man, who had the same massive physique. He was also in basketball shorts, but the sleeves of his T-shirt had been cut off.

“Dude! Where’ve you been? We thought you were dead!” The man who Shane assumed was Tanner plopped down on the couch next to Vince and handed him one of the beers he’d been carrying. “Wings are in the oven.”

“Working,” Quinn said with a roll of his eyes, but Shane had a feeling neither of his roommates were paying attention to him. The view on the TV panned to show a packed stadium and a squared ring with surrounding ropes.

“Go get your laundry. I’ll wait,” Shane prodded. Quinn threw him one last questioning look like he’d lost his fucking mind, but Shane just smirked. He understood Quinn’s reluctance. These two men couldn’t have been more different from Quinn if they tried. They were every bro he’d ever met at the local sports bars. Loud, crude, and possessed zero filter between their brains and their mouths. On the exterior, they could be boiled down to beer, sports, and sex.

And he could guess that for Quinn, there was nothing but the exterior. Quinn was inches smaller and didn’t possess their muscles. His survival instincts would have told him to keep his distance. All Shane could figure was that the rent must have been ridiculously low if Quinn was willing to call this place home even temporarily.

But just a few minutes of talking with Vince left Shane inclined to think that there was at least more to that man than Quinn was likely aware. He might have been loud and slightly obnoxious, but Shane was willing to bet that there was a part of Vince that had been genuinely worried about his roommate and his extended absence. Possibly even hurt.

Quinn returned minutes later with a large laundry bag slung over his shoulder like he was one of Santa’s helpers. Another messenger bag was hanging off his shoulder. It was like he had an endless supply of laptops.

“All right. We’re out,” he announced as he quickly crossed in front of the TV, heading back toward the front door.

“It was good to meet you,” Shane said with a wave toward Vince and Tanner. Vince gave him an absent nod, his eyes never leaving the TV, while Tanner called after Quinn.

“Tell that fucking boss of yours to give you a night off. Or a raise!”

“I’m not paying you more rent,” Quinn sang back to him.

“At least take a vacation day and get laid,” Vince shouted.

Shane chuckled as he closed the front door behind Quinn. “You know that’s not a bad idea at all,” he said in a low voice when they were alone in the hall.

Quinn smirked at him. “We’ll see if you’re that lucky.”

Shane wasn’t expecting to be attacked the moment they closed his condo door behind them. Quinn dropped his bags and pushed him into the wood, that wonderful mouth of his pressing for entrance into Shane’s. He opened for Quinn, his eyes shutting at the sheer pleasure that swamped him when Quinn slid his tongue into his mouth. The guy may not have had many good experiences with sex, but someone had taught him to kiss. Or he was the best natural Shane had ever been with.

Quinn’s hands ran up and down his chest before he delved underneath Shane’s T-shirt. Quinn shuddered when his hands ran over Shane’s bare skin and something in Shane’s belly tightened at his response. It was just so unaffected, so honest. The man had a deep well of sexual hunger and apparently, he’d only slept with idiots before this. Shane could feel his need in every move, every ragged breath, not to mention how fast Quinn got hard—every single time they touched.

The heady possibilities of what they could do together made Shane dizzy. He wanted to explore every single carnal desire Quinn had. Fingers delved through the hair on Shane’s chest, then moved down to his happy trail, then over the abs he sweated his ass off to get.

A low, rumbling groan vibrated into his mouth and Shane felt a strange, giddy pride that his body garnered such a response.

Deep, drugging kisses came one after another, and Shane wondered if Quinn had any idea how fucking alluring he was. Quinn tilted his head and Shane followed, his tongue sliding over Quinn’s. When Quinn sucked on it, Shane was thrust back to the night before when he’d had his mouth on him. Talk about a natural. He couldn’t stop his hips from rocking forward as he desperately sought some kind of friction.

One of Quinn’s hands immediately lowered to press on his cock through his jeans while the other came up to grab on to his curls and hold his head still for more plundering. The added pressure where he needed it made him gasp and grunt, and Quinn suddenly smiled against his mouth.

Shane twisted his head enough to pull loose so he could look at Quinn. “Something funny?”

Quinn shook his head. “Not funny.” He took a deep breath that shook enough to send flutters through Shane’s chest. “Exciting. Your response to me is exciting as hell. And…unexpected.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You’re hot as fuck, Quinn.” He put his hand over the back of Quinn’s, pressed, and rubbed his dick against him. “Do you feel how turned on I am? That’s for you. Because of you.” He couldn’t see why Quinn would have any hang-ups about his looks or his level of sexiness. “What the hell kind of guys have you fucked in the past?”

“If we’re being literal, none. I’ve never been on that side of things.”

The mix of emotions and thoughts that raced through Shane right then nearly sent him to his knees. Shock that Quinn had reached twenty-four without having fucked another man and giddy anticipation over being his first. Over teaching him how fun sex could actually be. Because he sure as hell liked being on the bottom side of things. As much as he loved being on the other.

He pushed Quinn back and shoved his button-down shirt off his shoulders, then tugged his T-shirt over his head. He pulled off his own shirt. When he dragged Quinn back against him, both of them hissed at the hot contact of skin. He slid his fingers into that thick hair and whispered against his lips. “Want to be on that side of things now?”

“Yeah,” he breathed. “Fuck, yes.”

Shane threaded their fingers together and walked backward as he tugged Quinn toward his bedroom. Blue eyes raked over his chest, and he took the time to study Quinn. He was built slim but fit, his smooth skin hairless and not as pale as Shane had expected with the way his cheeks turned red so easily. He had small, sexy brown nipples Shane couldn’t wait to check for sensitivity. But as he stared, a flush spread down from Quinn’s neck and he looked back up to find Quinn watching him, obviously looking for some kind of response.

“I love your body.”

“I’m nothing like that Baden guy.”

“So that’s where the hesitance was coming from. You think I only sleep with bodybuilders? Quinn, I’m attracted to different kinds of people, and I’m extremely attracted to you.” Shane reached out and ran his thumb over a nipple, enjoying the instant puckered response. “And your gorgeous body.”

Quinn shivered. “I wasn’t fishing for compliments.”

But on some level he had been, and Shane felt that all the way to his soul. The more he was with Quinn, the more he thought someone had done a number on him. Or he was just naturally insecure. And if that was the case, Shane planned to blast that out of the equation.

The back of his knees hit the end of his bed and he grinned, wrapped his arms around Quinn’s neck, and pulled him down on top of him. “So…are you going to fuck me, Quinn Lake?”

“Damn,” Quinn groaned into his ear. “You really like that?”

“Oh yeah,” he breathed. “I like it all ways.” He kissed his jaw, his neck. “And I really, really want you to fuck me.”

Quinn reared back and scrambled to his feet. He took off his glasses and set them on a bookshelf, then came back to lean over and unbutton Shane’s jeans. “I love that you wear button-flies.” He popped each one free slowly, doing that thing with the backs of his fingers again—where he rubbed his knuckles over his underwear. “I love the feel of the soft cotton over your hard dick. Makes me want to tuck my face against your balls.”

His eyes flared wide open. “Keep talking like that and I’m going to come all over you before you get in.”

Quinn snatched his hands back and Shane laughed, tugging him back down on top of him. He threaded his fingers through all that thick hair he was developing a fascination with and pulled him in for a kiss. All laughter fled in the wake of lust that slammed into him when Quinn dove in while thrusting his groin against Shane’s. His skin felt good sliding over Shane’s. And he smelled damn fantastic. He ran his hands over Quinn’s back.

This was gonna be so fun.

He rolled them so he could finish undressing Quinn, and the man watched him silently as he did. He dropped his jeans and belt on the floor, then ran his hands over lightly hairy shins and up the insides of his leanly muscled thighs. “Nice boxers,” he whispered before he grabbed them by the waist. With his teeth. In his peripheral vision, he caught Quinn’s hands curling into fists as he lifted his hips. Shane pulled them down slowly until that beautiful dick was completely exposed. He rubbed his cheek over it and kissed it before going back to the boxers—with his hands this time.

Quinn was panting, pre-come already leaking from his slit. Desire hummed in every inch of Shane’s body as he hurriedly finished undressing and stretched out on top of Quinn. He loved this. Loved the feel of bare skin against his. He didn’t have time to really focus on it though because Quinn went for his mouth again. Damn, the guy liked to kiss. And he had a toppy vibe that made Shane surprised he’d only been on the receiving end before.

Anticipation burned in him as he let Quinn roll him to his back. He rubbed on him, his hands sliding over every part of Shane he could reach. He pulled his mouth away and kissed down Shane’s chest, rubbing his cheek in the hair there.

“I fucking love a hairy chest,” he murmured right before he fastened his lips on Shane’s nipple and sucked.

Shane clenched his fingers on Quinn’s arms.

Quinn laved and bit, giving attention to both nipples, nuzzling his nose in the hair in between. He kissed down Shane’s stomach and again, did the thing with his nose in Shane’s happy trail. Shane couldn’t fucking think anymore as he just lay there and let the man explore his body. Enjoy his body, because his fascination was beyond obvious. And hot. So hot. He was glad he’d thoroughly showered right before they’d gone out, because Quinn didn’t stop there either, his nose going right into Shane’s crotch.

He held his breath as that wicked tongue came out to play. Quinn groaned as his nose brushed over Shane’s balls. “I love the way you smell.”

“Fuck.” Shane shut his eyes and made himself count to ten, so revved up he was about to embarrass himself. Shock held him still because this lovely computer nerd had him turned so inside out, he was about to combust. A warm, wet mouth slid over his dick and he moaned. “Condoms. Lube,” he panted. “In the drawer.”

The suction didn’t let up for two more slides before Quinn pulled off and kissed back up his body.

“For someone who said he didn’t”—he broke off when Quinn licked his nipple—“like sex, you sure are good at it.”

“You inspire me.” Quinn breathed into his neck as he rubbed his chest over Shane’s.

“Thank God,” Shane groaned. “Please. Get the lube. I want you in me. Now.”

Quinn had never been so turned on in his life. He dug inside the drawer, so drawn to Shane’s body, he hated being that far away from it right then. He loved every inch of that long, tight form. Loved the pattern of hair on his chest and abdomen. It wasn’t overly thick and it ran from his collarbone to his nipples. So fucking sexy, Quinn wanted to just rub his whole body over it. Shane worked out more than he did, but he wasn’t large—just nicely toned with ripped abs and he obviously used the bikes in the living room, because his thighs were things of beauty. Quinn had every intention of picking up more hours at the gym after this. He wanted to look good for him.

Their time would be too short for much change, he reminded himself.

He didn’t want to think about that.

He also didn’t want to think about why that thought bothered him.

Sex had never been this fun, this full of gliding touches and laughter and…heat. And he was still shocked that Shane wanted to bottom for him. Anticipation made his fingers shake as he coated them with lube and crawled back on top of Shane. When Shane opened his legs, Quinn couldn’t stop himself from kissing the man again. His mouth was just so fucking erotic. He didn’t shove his tongue into Quinn’s mouth; he let it glide slowly, surely, and Quinn couldn’t get enough.

Quinn pulled off and held his body up. “Do you want to turn over?”

“Normally, I’d say yes. Love it like that. But no.” Shane grabbed his wrist and pushed his hand between his legs. “I want to watch you. I’m assuming you know what to do.”

Quinn watched Shane’s face as he rubbed his fingers around his hole, spreading the lube. Shane’s mouth fell open, his breaths increasing as he stared back. His eyelids lowered when Quinn slid his index finger slowly inside him. Oh fuck, it was so tight in there. So hot. The walls silky against his skin. He moved his finger, sliding it in and out. When he added the second finger, he kept his gaze locked on Shane, looking for signs of pain. But either Shane got off on the pain or he wasn’t feeling it. No, instead he was bucking up, his ass grasping on to Quinn so tight, he wanted inside him more than he wanted his next breath. He added a third finger and couldn’t take his eyes off Shane’s face as his eyes slid shut.

“I don’t need all that,” Shane bit out.

“I’m actually just enjoying it.”

Shane grinned, but it was strained. “Oh, well then.” He brought his ass up again. “But fuck, I’m ready for you,” he said, his voice hardly more than a raspy grunt.

He pulled out his fingers and rolled on the condom, his hands still shaking because he’d never been so excited in his entire life. Shane wrapped his arm under his knee and drew his leg up high as Quinn pushed inside him. Shane never took those brown eyes off his face, as if he wanted to memorize every expression that crossed Quinn’s. He could only imagine the shock Shane must be seeing, because holy fucking hell, it felt good inside him. That tight heat felt so much better on his cock and he’d loved it on his fingers. He pulled back, then cautiously pushed in more and watched as Shane’s nostrils flared and his mouth fell open again.

“I’m not made of glass,” Shane assured him. “Harder.”

Quinn pushed up to balance on both hands and began thrusting harder inside Shane and when he saw only pleasure on his face, he just gave himself up to the complete bliss overtaking him. He loved getting head, he did, but it was possible he loved this even more. He lowered to his elbows, so he could feel Shane’s body against him. That was why. It was tighter, hotter, yes, but the touch of a body, Shane’s body, against so much of his own made it better.

Shane ran his hands down Quinn’s back and grabbed on to his ass. “Yes,” he hissed, spreading his legs more. “Fuck, yes!”

Quinn buried his face in Shane’s neck, unable to stop the noises spilling from his mouth. He pushed deep into Shane, who clutched him even tighter, fingers digging into his cheeks so hard, it hurt. But it was a good hurt. Quinn shuddered and shoved into him again and again, feeling sweat slicking them together, Shane’s cock sliding along his stomach. He managed to pull enough thoughts together to reach between them. The lube left on his hand mixed with their sweat made his fingers glide over Shane’s dick. He stroked him, fingers slipping and sliding over hot skin.

The shout that came out of Shane sent a wave of joy through him that upped his own pleasure. He did this. He, Quinn Lake, was making this gorgeous man fall apart under him.

Sweat dripped from his face onto Shane’s neck, making him taste of salt. He came up to share the flavor with Shane, swallowing the groans coming from the man’s mouth, sliding their tongues together as their bodies slid together. Even Shane’s curls were damp against his arm.

He squeezed his fingers and felt Shane’s ass clamp down hard on his dick right as he shot all over his stomach and chest—all over Quinn’s chest, too. And that pulled him over the edge. Pure, unadulterated pleasure burned through his body as he pumped into the condom, his cock still in the vise of Shane’s ass. He shook and held on to the man. Something went soft in his chest when arms came around his back and neck to hold him tight.

Really, really tight.